Amusement device



Jaim EL, E9@ R, A, HAMgL'l-ON AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1949 auw@ INVENTOR. ROGER A. HAMILTON AT TOR N F Y Patented Jan. 3l, 19x50UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 2.495.967 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Roger A.Hamilton, Rutherford, N. J. Application September 27,

3 Claims. (Cl. 46`1) This invention relates to improvements in amusementdevices and this application is a continuation in part of applicationSerial'Number 101,427 led June 25, 1949.

One object of the invention is the provision of an amusement devicewhich includes a handle, and an element secured thereto which will, bymoving the handle endwise and suddenly stopping such movement, beextended into the air in the form of an inverted cone, the apex of whichis said handle; the inverted cone, due to a certain set inherently builtinto said element. tending to return or retract to its initial positionon the handle.

The element secured on the handle is comprised of a web of materialwhich is 1n the form of a helix and which is tempered or set so that italways tends to return to its initial closed helical form. The inner endof the web forming the helix is secured to the handle, and the handlehas secured thereon a washer or disc which is larger in diameter thanthe closed helix and forms a continuous ledge upon which the helixnormally bottoms One of the objects of the invention is the provision ofa device of the character described, which may be repetitively extendedand retracted, The extension of the element is in accordance with theendwise impulse exerted. For example, if a comparatively light impulseis employed, the helical web extends outwardly .i from the end of thehandle a distance less than it would extend under the urge of heavierimpulses. Within certain limits it has been found that as the plane inwhich the element is extended approaches the horizontal, the slower itretracts. This is believed to be due to the fact that the frictionbetween the contacting convolutions of the web increases and tends toovercome the springiness or set of the helical element.

A further object of the invention is the provision .of a novelty toywith which both old and young may derive much amusement, and with whichtheir skill increases with increased use of the toy.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart upon a study of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention:

Figure 1 is an end view of my novelty toy;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the lines 2--2 of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the toy shownin Figures l and2; and

0.005 thick, and have 1949, Serial No. 117,980

normal position on the handle.

Referring rst to Figures l to 3, the active element l0 of the toy iscomprised of an elongated web Il which is formed into a plurality ofconvolutions l2 in a close helical array and processed to impart to it aset, which causes it to reassume its initial close helical form,especially when distorted or distended axially from said form.

Although various metallic or non-metallic ma;Y terials may be employed,I prefer to make my active element of a comparatively thin plasticmaterial having comparatively high tensile strength, great resiliencyand exibility, and the vinyl plastic material in the neighborhood ofset" the material to retain its close helical form by heat treating thesame.

The element I 0 is mounted on a handle i5 by securing the innerconvolution i3 thereof to the upper portion i 3 of said handle by meansof an adhesive, or in any other suitable manner. When so mounted, thelower end of the element I0 rests on a disc IE which is secured to thehandle at a point intermediate the ends thereof, leaving a free handleportion l1 below it which may be grasped by the users hand. The outerend I4 of the element I0 is free, as shown.

The web Il may be decorated in various ways, for example, by making astrip A, adjacent to one end one color; a strip B, adjacent tothe otherend another or the same; and the portion C, therebetween a colorcontrasted with the other colors for novel and pleasing effects.

Operation With the fingers of the users hand embracingly grasping theportion I1 of the handle I5 and with the thumb engaging the rim of thedisc i6, the hand is suddenly moved forward, thereby moving the toyendwise or axially (in the Idirection of the arrow in Figure 4)--thensuddenly stopping the hand (without releasing the handle)therebysubjecting the element In only to the impulse. This causes the elementto be extended in the form of an inverted cone, the

outer end I4 being part of the base of the cone and the apex remainingon the handle, due t0 the fact that the inner end I3 of the element issecured to the handle. When the element is extended, the convolutionsapproach the form oi a conical spiral which has an appearance somewhatlike that shown in Figure 4.

As soon as the impulse is spent, the conical spiral ceases to increasein length and immediately the inherent urge, in the material of whichthe element l0 is formed, causes it to return to its initial position.Usually the inverted cone is launched in a direction between thehorizontal and the vertical, therefore the urge is abetted by the forceof gravity.

The user, by repetitive use of the device may develop the ability toeffect unusual effects and perform many amusing tricks with the toy. Forexample, one such trick is as follows: As soon as the element has beenextended in the form of the inverted cone (as described above) andbefore it starts back to its normal position, it may be kept in theextended condition by moving the hand circularly so that such circularmotion is imparted to the toy. This circular motion combined with thefriction between the convolutions, in eiect is slightly greater thansaid inherent urge. Then when this motion is decreased or stopped, theinherent urge effects the return of the element to its initial closehelical state.

Although I have herein shown and described one embodiment of theinvention, many variations in the arrangements shown may be made withinthe scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy of the character described, an active element comprised of aweb of resilient material formed into a plurality of convolutions eachof which is in light frictional contact with its neighbors, saidmaterial being set or tempered to cause it to exist in the form of ahelix when in normal repose and to cause it to tend to return to itshelical form when forces exerted axially thereon to distort it becomeless than the inherent urge produced in said material by the 'temperthereof, a handle having a portion thereof extending into and secured tothe innermost of said convolutions, and an abutment member carried onsaid handle forming a support for one edge of said helical 4 band whenthe latter is in said normal repose with its axis approaching a verticalplane.

2. In an amusement device of the character described, an active elementcomprised of a comparatively thin web of resilient plastic materialformed into a plurality of convolutions each of which is in lightfrictional contact with its neighbors. said material being set ortempered to cause it to exist in the form of a helix when in normalrepose and to cause it to tend to return to its helical form when anyportion thereof is distorted axially, and a handle having an axismounted on the axis of said helix, and having an extension upon whichthe inner convolution of said helix is mounted.

3. In an amusement device of the character described, an active elementcomprised of a comparatively thin web of resilient plastic materialformed into a plurality of convolutions each of which is in lightfrictional contact with its neighbors, said material being set ortempered to cause it to exist in the form of a helix when in normalrepose and to cause it to tend to return to its helical form when anyportion thereof is distorted axially, a handle having its axiscoinciding with the axis of said helix, and having an abutment membermounted thereon for supporting one edge of said helical band when saiddevice isheld in an upright position, said handle further having aportion above said abutment member serving as a mounting for the innerconvolution of said helix.

ROGER A. HAMILTON.

REFERENCES errno The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 350,344 Caldwell Oct. 5, 1886389,806 Hale Sept. 18, 1888 1,543,052 Brown June 23, 1925 1,718,792 MainJune 25, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 754,191 France Aug.21, 1933

